Record ocean warming and El Niño compound global climate extremes

Ocean surface temperatures across the globe reached an unprecedented July average outside polar regions, surpassing previous highs according to Copernicus climate service measurements. The thermal spike coincided with the warmest combined June and July recorded in Europe, where persistent heatwaves have triggered widespread wildfires and extended droughts.

Scientists attribute these conditions to ongoing global warming interacting with an intensifying El Niño pattern in the Pacific Ocean. The phenomenon is driving severe weather worldwide, triggering heavy rainfall and flooding across Asia while heightening drought risks across the Amazon basin. Analysts warn that compounding climatic stresses threaten agricultural production, energy infrastructure, and international supply chains, with researchers anticipating further temperature increases in subsequent years.

Sources: BBC News, Bloomberg, MIT Technology Review, STV News, The Guardian.